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Philly is not the center of the universe for Chem E. Your boyfriend should be looking into the centers of the universe for Chem E.
That would be where the refineries are. Houston, Baton Rouge. Or where the new fields are - North Dakota. Or at Dupont or one of the other major chemical companies. None of which are in Philly.
Repeat: There is no demand for Chem E. anywhere around Philly. OK - maybe in New Jersey. Has he looked there?
Both of you - get out of the decaying Northeast. Philly IS in the decaying Northeast. You - personally - may want to stay with your grandparents until you get some employable skills. Getting the education is only the first part. To have transferable skills, you also need experience.
If your boy friend is smart, he'll cash in on his degree where it's needed and where it will pay him. You will be in a better position to both study and get experience under this scenario. I agree with Charly - you do need to be able to take care of yourself financially.
It sounds as if you both have prioritized being together more than you have prioritized financial self-sufficiency. For you, this is a fatal road to follow and it is dragging your boyfriend down as well.
He says they're asking for a lot but are only willing to pay a little (although the cost of living there is low)...
He'll be out of the Chemical Engineering mainstream, so it would be a stopgap measure while he's getting experience to move on to the big time. Which is anywhere there is a refinery.
Don't get so excited with the prospect of keeping him chained to Philly. Philly is a morgue as far as Chem E goes, and staying anywhere around there will be a millstone around his neck.
A stopgap measure is something he takes to get experience (if they're asking for a lot, that's good for him - he can put some numbers on the scoreboard) for two years so he can demonstrate that he was not thrown out on his ear during probation. Then he uses that experience to move on to the places where real Chem E is done and where the pay is commensurate with the degree and experience. The refineries.
If you move somewhere for a job, you always have to think a couple of steps ahead to "how the heck am I going to get out". Except for that first couple of years of experience, if he is in Ohio, he will be trapped in a professional backwater. If he gets laid off, and the guy in the only other Chem E job in the state is not retiring for another 29 years, he is trapped.
In a place with a critical mass of demand for Chem Es, such as at a refining center, if he gets laid off, he walks across the street and gets another job.
If you move somewhere for a job, you always have to think a couple of steps ahead to "how the heck am I going to get out". Except for that first couple of years of experience, if he is in Ohio, he will be trapped in a professional backwater. If he gets laid off, and the guy in the only other Chem E job in the state is not retiring for another 29 years, he is trapped.
That's happened to him with his past two jobs, and they each lasted about three months.
Jane Smith has provided excellent advice on chemical engineers having to live by the refineries. Most of the jobs will be along the gulf coast. Besides Houston, Baton Rouge has many companies looking for chemical engineers. If you lose a job at one employer, there are many other employers along the gulf coast.
Most refineries are searching for people as their staffs are getting to close to retirement age or are already there. There several refineries in the Philly area and two in Northern New jersey which might employee your BF. He needs to go online to rig zone.com and begin a job search there to stay in the area if that's the plan.
if not, the the Gulf Coast will be where he has to go if he doesn't wish to go overseas to work. The majority of the chemical/petrochemical industry is down there and they also are looking for people, although without as much desperation as they have a "glut" of graduates and experienced people. If you both stay together, then you may have to relocate there briefly until the economy improves or until you are able to locate work in areas where you both want to live.
Your BF might also want to check into the Marcellus Shale gas play in North-Central Pennsylvania as they are looking for technical people in that area. That's several hours from York, but at least you still be able to remain in your home state and close to your families. The HQ for this seems to be Pittsburgh , so I would suggest starting there.
Good luck.
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